Microchipping your pet is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve the chances of being reunited if they become lost. While collars and ID tags are important, they can fall off or become damaged, leaving pets without any visible identification.
Despite microchipping being a routine procedure, there are still many misconceptions about how it works and why it is important. Understanding the facts can help you make informed decisions about your pet’s lifelong safety.
A pet microchip is a tiny electronic chip, about the size of a grain of rice, that is implanted just under your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades. The procedure is quick, does not require surgery and is similar to receiving a vaccination.
Each microchip contains a unique identification number that can be read using a specialised scanner. When your pet is scanned by a veterinary clinic, animal shelter or local council, the number links to your contact details stored on a secure database.
Unlike GPS trackers, a pet microchip does not track your pet’s location or require batteries.
Microchipping dogs and cats provides permanent identification that stays with your pet for life.
Some of the key benefits include:
According to the RSPCA, microchipped dogs and cats are significantly more likely to be reunited with their families than pets without permanent identification.
Remember, a microchip is only effective if your contact details are kept up to date whenever you move house or change phone numbers.
There are several myths surrounding pet microchips that can discourage owners from having their pets microchipped.
Myth: My pet wears a collar, so they don’t need a microchip.
Reality: Collars and tags can break or fall off. A microchip provides permanent identification even if your pet loses its collar.
Myth: Microchips track my pet’s location.
Reality: A microchip is not a GPS device. It only stores an identification number that can be read with a scanner.
Myth: Implanting a microchip is painful.
Reality: Most pets tolerate the procedure very well. It is quick and causes only brief discomfort, similar to a vaccination.
Myth: Indoor pets don’t need microchips.
Reality: Even indoor pets can escape through open doors, damaged screens or during emergencies. Every pet can benefit from permanent identification.
Yes. A collar with an up-to-date ID tag remains an important first line of identification.
If someone finds your pet, they may be able to contact you immediately using the details on the tag without needing to visit a veterinary clinic to scan the microchip.
Using both a collar and a pet microchip provides the best protection should your pet become lost.
Having a microchip is only part of the process. Your contact information must remain current so you can be reached if your pet is found.
Be sure to update your microchip details if you:
Taking a few minutes to update your details can make all the difference if your pet ever goes missing.
Puppies and kittens are typically microchipped at a young age, often before they are adopted into their new homes. However, it is never too late to have an older pet microchipped.
If you’re unsure whether your pet has a microchip, your veterinarian can quickly scan them during a routine consultation.
If your pet isn’t microchipped or you’d like to check that their microchip details are up to date, our experienced veterinary team is here to help.
Call 03 9328 3021 or book an appointment online today to help give your pet the best chance of finding their way home if they ever become lost.
If your pet isn’t microchipped, or you’d like to check their details are up to date, our veterinary team is here to help.
Collars and tags can break or fall off. A microchip provides permanent identification even if your pet loses its collar.
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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since 1966, when designers at Letraset and James Mosley, the librarian at St Bride Printing Library in London, took a 1914 Cicero translation and scrambled it to make dummy text for Letraset’s Body Type sheets. It has survived not only many decades, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised thanks to these sheets and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker and Microsoft Word including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since 1966, when designers at Letraset and James Mosley, the librarian at St Bride Printing Library in London, took a 1914 Cicero translation and scrambled it to make dummy text for Letraset’s Body Type sheets. It has survived not only many decades, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised thanks to these sheets and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker and Microsoft Word including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since 1966, when designers at Letraset and James Mosley, the librarian at St Bride Printing Library in London, took a 1914 Cicero translation and scrambled it to make dummy text for Letraset’s Body Type sheets. It has survived not only many decades, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised thanks to these sheets and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker and Microsoft Word including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
